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THE FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATIONS– (FEMA) is organizing its 11th annual motorcycle ride with Members of the European Parliament (commonly called MEP RIDE). This ride across the beautiful Strasbourg Region will gather Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and Assistants from over 15 different EU countries and allow motorcyclist to discuss issues of major importance with their representatives like the integration of Powered Two-Wheelers in urban transport and motorcyclists views on how to improve safety on EU roads. For further information, please visit www.mep-ride.eu.
BRUCE ON BIKERS RIGHTS OPEN LETTER TO ABATE OF ILLINOIS (“We only have those rights we are willing to defend.”)– Fellow Riders and Freedom Fighters in the State of Illinois:
I have had the privilege of riding across your great state four times in the past six weeks: first going to and returning from Sturgis, then twice over Labor Day Weekend as part of two Iron Butt Association “Bun Burner Gold” runs from Miami Beach to Chicago and back by way of East St. Louis. On I-24 West near its terminus at I-57, three Illinois riders and myself were almost killed by a cellphone-impaired cager, one of many nationwide who apparently feel their right to gab is more important than our right to life:
Perhaps that should not be surprising, since as I observed last weekend, the State of Illinois posts signs that actually encourage motorists to use their cellphones while they are driving:
I hope you will see clear to follow the example set by our brothers and sisters in Delaware, and demand that your governor and the misguided safetycrats in your state capital take down those signs, and stop encouraging such irresponsibly reckless and dangerous behavior:
Make them understand that we have 236 million cellphone subscribers on our roadways … that 73% of them are talking while they are driving … that cellphone conversations impair their driving skills as much if they were intoxicated with alcohol … and that consequently they are four times more likely to cause or be involved in an accident than motorists who responsibly shut up and steer. The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, for example, reports that ONE IN FOUR ACCIDENTS in Oklahoma last year occurred when a driver was talking on the phone:
Cellphone-related or not, RIGHT-OF-WAY VIOLATIONS BY CAGERS have long been the single most significant threat to the life and limb of responsible motorcycle riders. And that is never going to change, so long as the price negligent and care-less motorists pay for maiming or killing bikers is no more than a slap on the wrist:
I implore you not to wait too late to take action in this regard. Otherwise, Erika Scoliere may literally get away with murder, just like ABATE of Ohio allowed to happen with respect to Thelma Bartley, the drunk who killed Ohio motorcyclists Marshall Atwood and Deborah McClintock then plea-bargained her way to a sentence of only 90 days and a $150 fine:
And now you, our brothers and sisters in Illinois, have been put on notice as well. Know that there are concerned riders from coast to coast standing ready to support you.
Speaking strictly for myself and no other individuals or organizations,
–Bruce Arnold
Bruce@LdrLongDistanceRider.com
Author and Publisher, LdrLongDistanceRider.com
Co-Moderator, Bruce-n-Ray’s Biker Forum
Premier Member, Iron Butt Association
Sustaining Member, Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Member and Elite Legislative Supporter, American
Motorcyclist Association
P.S. My thanks to Garry Van Kirk and all the other Bruce-n-Ray’s Biker Forum contributors who provided input and inspiration for this communication.
BISAGNO BY ZIPPER’S 5-SPEED TRAP DOOR BILLET TRANSMISSION DOOR WITH DOUBLE-ROWE BEARINGS– Original design by Frank and John Bisagno now produced by Zipper’s. This beautiful transmission door is CNC machined from billet aluminum with heavy duty, double-row bearings for the utmost in strength, shaft alignment and support. Fits 5 speed Big Twins 1987-2006. Includes shaft nuts and end spacers. Brilliant polished finish means “Bling with Benefits”!
Application: 872-100 fits 1987-1993 all model 5 speed Big Twins, 1994-2006 FXR, Softail, Dyna models with 5 speed transmission (not 2006 FXD 6 speed models)
872-105 fits 1994-2006 FLT, FLHT, FLHR, FLTR Touring models
For more information, contact:
ZIPPER’S PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
6655-A Amberton Drive
Elkridge, MD 21075
Phone 410.579.2828 Fax 410.579.2835
www.zippersperformance.com
LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK–2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON DEUCE ONLY 12,995.00– Limited Edition paint, 2003 Anniversary sheet metal and more!
ONLY $12,995.00
STURGIS RALLY ENDS WISHFUL OF ATTENDANCE COUNT– STURGIS – Estimating crowd size at the annual motorcycle rally has become a semi-pro activity since attendance estimates exploded from the 100,000 range to the 500,000 range after the 50th anniversary in 1990.__This year, it’s no different, said Sturgis Mayor Maury LaRue.__”You get bits and pieces of data from all of us, and what relevance does that have? We hedge whether it’s up or down, but how do we measure it?” LaRue said.
LaRue suggested that the University of South Dakota or the state’s tourism department should find a way to report statistics that are “somewhere close” to a definitive count.__The rally officially concludes today.
Law enforcement officials say they haven’t been as busy as last year.__According to a running tally, by Saturday, the number of people jailed in Meade County was up slightly from a year ago, to 414 from 403, Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin said.__”We did arrest 25 people for DWI compared to 19 last year,” he said. But sheriff’s deputies had written only 145 tickets Saturday, compared to 194 by the same time in 2006.
Sturgis Police contributed fewer people to the jail population than a year ago. Last year by the final weekend of the rally, police officers had jailed 95 rallygoers – this year only 76.__Police had responded to five injury accidents and 30 noninjury accidents by Saturday, according to Sgt. Darrel Hatzenbuhler of the Sturgis Police.
For the entire rally in 2006, police issued 716 felony, misdemeanor and traffic citations.__By Saturday, the Highway Patrol had responded to 19 non-injury accidents, 49 injury accidents and two fatal accidents associated with the rally. Troopers made 224 DWI arrests, 176 miscellaneous drug arrests, 41 felony drug arrests and seven arrests for other felonies.__The number of vendors is 809, down 31 from last year, but officials attribute most of that to vendors who had operated out of multiple small storefronts combining into a large shop.
On Main Street Sturgis, vendors reported being busy.__”I talked to one bar owner who said last night was the best night he’s had since he entered the bar business here, ever,” Sturgis Police Chief Jim Bush said.
At Hot Leathers on the corner of Main Street and Junction Avenue, manager Jeanett Wolff works from 7:30 a.m. to past midnight keeping up with rally week traffic.__”I’m busy. We stay very busy until the end of September,” Wolff said.__Rally sales started out slow but picked up, Wolff said.
Tad Wolf of Rosini Family Gypsy Tour Tattooing said the tattoo shop, too, had a slow start. But by Thursday, the equipment was buzzing nonstop.__”At this point, you don’t get to do much but work,” Wolf said. “But it’s hard to tell before the last weekend.”
Other vendors said the final weekend is what makes or breaks a rally.__”Our biggest days are always the end of the week,” said Brian Nieman, co-owner of Sturgis Motor Classic, a shop that sells rally-themed T-shirts, caps, shot glasses and other merchandise.
By Denise Ross & Peter Harriman
Argus Leader
DOHERTY MACHINE BILLET CAM COVERS– NEW FROM DOHERTY MACHINE- BILLET CAM COVER FITS ALL TWIN CAMS 99-2008 MACHINED FROM 6061 BILLET ALUMINUM AVAILABLE IN POLISHED OR CHROME UNIQUE STYLING FOR RETRO TO MODERN AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.
–Mark
SUNDAY NEGOTIABLE DEAL OF THE WEEK–Tim from Negotiable Parts sends us these deals, but with very little description. This is all you get, but it’s a great price:
7500.00 runs good, ’73 H-D California title
ANOTHER 5-BALL RACING BONNEVILLE PIT CREW CHECKS IN– Cannot thank you enough for allowing me to pit crew and just hang out with you great people.
Steve and I rode thru rain, hail, cold and smoke from forest fires today but barely noticed it all at 85 – 90 mph.
Let me know if I can ever be of assistance.
Merci Beaucoup, as they say in French.
–Marc Beaulieu
BIKERNET PROJECT BIKE ENGRAVING FROM HEATHER AT NEW LINE ENGRAVING–Didn’t think I would do the nipples for Jeremiah, did ya? Ha, Ha, Ha! Here’s the shit. Send the briefcase.
–Heather
Email – heather@new-lineengraving.com
?Telephone – (403) 945-3339 ?
Store Address – Unit 5, 805 East Lake Blvd Ne.
Airdrie, AB T4A 2G4
NOTE FROM 5-BALL RACING SPONSOR–Yeeeehaaaaa boys and girls, Congrats to everyone on the 5-Ball Racing Team. Hard work by the brothers and sisters has paid off, again. Damn what a sexy machine she is. Thanks for letting me and the guys from Rollin Sixes have a small part in it, again this year. We are proud to be part of a group of men and women who pulled together like you did and made it happen.
OLD SCHOOL BABY, OLD SCHOOL.
–Jerry
Rollin Sixes.
PHILIPPINES MOTORCYCLES BANNED–Philippines motorcycles are now banned on expressways, which the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) classify as “limited access highways.” Radio dzBB reported that enforcers at the North and South Luzon Expressways have started flagging down motorcycles traveling along these expressways.
But it said authorities admitted they could still not issue citation tickets to the motorcycle drivers as there are still no implementing rules and regulations for the new policy.
TWIN CAM ALPHA ENGINE STAND– This steel, powder coated stand is indispensable for all your engine Twin Cam Alpha repairs. Instruction sheet No.1022-IS.
No.1022 – Use on all Twin Cam Alpha only, 1999-present
“TALLER” BIG TWIN ENGINE STAND This powder coated finished stand is now 1-1/2″ taller to fit all Big Twin cases for engine repair. New notch for crankcase breather fitting. Instruction sheet No.1006-IS.
No.1006T – Use on all Big Twins single cam. (Note: Includes aftermarket motors.)
–JT Lepien
www.jimsusa.com
RACING REPORTS REVIEWED– I am very impressed with the Bonneville effort. Fantastic looking bike. Awesome example of form and function. I haven’t enjoyed a read this much since your road racing Lincoln. Congratulations.
–Big Bill
IT’S MARGARITA TIME–Bikernet still owns the world’s fastest Panhead. According to reports on the salt, if we were running during more ideal conditions, we would have hit 185 or more. Seasoned racers on 200 plus bikes could not even make passes, but the Assalt Weapan charged through at least 8 passes. The list of mods is growing. Hang on for more reports.
Also, this coming week will be jammed with fresh features, girls, techs and more Sturgis reports. Watch for all the action to heat up on Bikernet, the World’s Fastest Website. Yeah, right.
Let’s ride,
–Bandit
